June 19th 2019
SUNLIGHT SPILLED INTO my bedroom, showing dust floating in the air. i sat up in my bed, looked around my room, and felt somewhat unsatisfied about how my room felt. i hadn't really had a lot of time to fix it up since we moved in. but now that i had two more days of a grounding, i suddenly felt the urge to redo my room.
i started off with my bed, pushing it along the carpet. i got Jordyn's old bed when we moved here, and she got a new one. Her old one has a black metal frame. it wouldn't be my first choice, but i can work with what i have. i moved it from in front of my window, over to the middle of my room so i'd have space on either side. I then moved my dresser to the other side of my room, and hung cute photos and stuff i got off pinterest over it. i finished up the look by stealing black-strip hanging lights from Evelyn's room, and hanging them above my head. what? she'll never notice. i'm really proud of the finished product:
I felt better in my room now that i had it the way i wanted.
Now it was only eleven o'clock, and i had a whole day and a half more of grounding. i plopped down on my bed and groaned into my pillow.
"dramatic much?" Evelyn walks into my room and sets my ipad down at the foot of my bed. "it's dead by the way." she smirked.
"get out." i roll my eyes. but she doesn't get out. she walks over to my dresser, picks up my blue LA baseball cap, and puts it on her head.
"hey, don't touch my things." i warn her.
"chill it's just a stupid hat." she puts it back. but i didn't really care if it was "just a hat" it was my hat, and she had no reason to come in my room and mess with my stuff.
"so this is what you spent your morning doing." Evelyn looks around my room.
"do you like it?"
"it's really basic." she says judgmentally, "you can keep my lights by the way." she says then starts to walk out of my room, "oh wait." she turns around, "your little boyfriend dropped something off this morning. it's on the kitchen table."
"what is it?" i ask.
"why don't you go see for yourself?" she then turns around and walks out of my room again. my god she drives me insane.
i walk downstairs to the dining room to find a small envelope. i open it up to see a letter, it read:
window chat at 8pm. be there:) -benny
my mood lifted. window chat sounds tacky and childish, but we came up with it when we were just six. there were no phones or anything to text or call each other at the time, so we would sit at our windows and shout across the road to each other. our neighbors probably hated us, but it was really fun. and technically that's not leaving the house.
i had been so happy that he still remembered that, that i didn't even hear my mom come up behind me before she said "window chat? isn't that the thing where you guys yelled at each other from your windows?"
"yep." i fold the letter up and place it in the pocket of my sweats, "that's not leaving the house, therefore i can do it." i walked away before my mom could tell me no. my relationship with my family isn't the best right now if you couldn't tell already...
-
at 8pm exactly i open up my window to see benny's smiling face. i just looked at him for a second.
we talked, loudly of course, for about an hour before it got dark and my dad told me to come inside so we wouldn't wake the neighbors. i couldn't believe how lucky i was to have my best friend back. but the other half of me couldn't believe how unlucky i was to have to move away again eventually.
E V E L Y N
point of view
I listened to Benny and Brinley's window talk or whatever they call it out on the porch for a long time. it's beyond me why they would have a conversation from windows allowing the whole neighborhood to hear, when they could just facetime. but i guess if it makes them happy to let all the neighbors in on their conversation it's up to them. i was originally out on the front porch making tiktoks before i heard them start talking, and then i decided to eves drop a bit.
i walk into Jordyns room and get a nasty look from her but ignore it.
"hey jord, can i ask you something?"
"you just did. bye." she shooed me away.
"no, i'm serious." i gave her a look that i was hoping she'd take me seriously after seeing.
"fine. what is it?" she asks concerned, probably because i'm never serious, and always seem to make a joke out of all the serious things.
"last night, i heard dad talking to mom about leaving." i felt my eyes start to water.
"i'm sorry what?" Jordyn sat up, surprised. i had been carrying a weight around with me all day. the night before i had heard my dad talking to my mom about getting a divorce, for "the better of our family" but to me, i just felt like it would be hard on me and my sisters if our parents split up.
"well my room is right next to theirs, and the walls are thin. i heard mom and dad saying that dad might just go to the location of his next job, and leave us here. which would mean divorce." i started sobbing uncomfortably. being an eleven year old and hearing your parents discuss divorce, is not easy.
Jordyn threw her arms around me. "hey it's okay. maybe you just misheard." her voice kind of soothed me, but i know what i heard.
"no Jordyn. i have 20/20 hearing." i sobbed more.
Jordyn chuckled a bit "Evs there's no such thing as 20/20 hearing, you're thinking of vision." i couldn't see what was so funny, though. "okay so let's just say they are. you have me Evs, and Brinley." she reassured.
"it's not the same. why can't mom and dad just stay together forever." i cried into her shoulder now, her soft sweater absorbing my tears.
"sometimes parents fall out of love. it's sad, but normal." she wiped the tears off my face, "plus, you'll still have mom and dad, maybe just not together in the same house."
that made me feel better, but at the same time it didn't. at least i had told her. i wanted to tell Brinley this morning when i went to return her ipad, but i decided against it. i thought i'd be able to keep it to myself for a while, but i broke.
J O R D Y N
point of view
the words coming out of Evelyn's mouth hurt, but didn't surprise me. i knew my mom and dad have been having their differences for years. while it's hard to accept, maybe it would be better if they split. they weren't happy, clearly, and that would also mean my sisters and i would stop having to move all over the country, which is a plus.
it was just as hard for me as it was for Evelyn, but as her older sister i had to be there for her and hold myself together. she may put up a tough front, but no one's that tough.
B R I N L E Y
point of view
I'm just about in tears, watching someone die in grey's anatomy, when i hear a knock at my window.
fully expecting to see Benny, i roll up my blinds. i was shocked to see DeNunez out on my roof.
"what the hell are you doing here?" i roll up my window. "and how did you even get up here my room is on the second level."
"commitment my friend. took many tries to climb up here. don't even wanna think about the trip down." he laughs.
"ok so... why?" i look at him just utterly shocked, once again, to see him on my roof.
"Yeah-yeah's family is hosting a bonfire right now. we talked about it today at the sandlot, but you weren't there so you obviously didn't know." he explains.
"oh so basically you came here to brag to me about how you guys are all out having fun, and i'm basically in house arrest. nice bud." i roll my eyes jokingly.
"nonono!" he waves his hands. "that's not what it is! yeah-yeah's sister is there... and she's got a huge crush on Benny. been flirting with him for awhile now and couldn't stand to watch it anymore."
my heart sank. but i couldn't show it. "oh, why would i care?" i say acting like my heart hadn't just been broken.
"man. stop lying to yourself. you're just as much in denial as Benny is." DeNunez looks annoyed now.
"what? i don't understand." even though i did.
"you and Benny." DeNunez looks at me like i'm an idiot now.
"oh, what about us?" i decide to play dumb.
"cmon. even the way that you guys look at each other. you like each other. i can see it, and so can everyone else. You're dumb, or just acting it. because you know just as much as i do that you like him." he points at me. dang he was on to my playing dumb act.
"DeNunez we look at each other like normal people. we're best friends i- i mean-" he cuts me off.
"ok i'm sorry, but Brinley." he got all serious, "friends don't look at friends like you two look at each other." i didn't even know what to say. i couldn't even form words. "i came to get you. no more denying, you're coming with me. come get your Benny."
"i'm still grounded, Denunez, if you hadn't remembered."
he rolls his eyes. "i know, why do you think i came to your window? i'll help you sneak out. what's gonna happen, you get double grounded?" he chuckles.
"actually yes my parents would probably add on a few days." i crossed my arms.
"ok i guess, Bella will just keep flirting with Benny then. they'll start dating, get married, have a family together, a happy life and-" i cut him off.
"wait..." i sigh. "i'm coming."
-
DeNunez and i practically sprint all the way to Yeah-yeah's. when we walk around to the backyard, sure enough there's Yeah-yeah's sister Bella offering a s'more to Benny.
so now DeNunez knew. and i knew. i mean i guess i've known all along, but now i really knew.
Benny spotted me and ran up to me "Brynn!" he hugs me. he looked as though he was looking for any excuse to get away from Bella. I had faint memories of Bella, she was kind of that one mean girl in our grade. She would be the one to plan exclusive parties, gossip about everyone at recess, and deny people when they wanted to play four square with her little squad. but most of all, i remember her jealousy when it came to me. she always wanted to be apart of baseball games at the sandlot, and our friendgroup. she would stop by once and a while when we were little, but yeah-yeah shooed her away. she was jealous i hung out with all the guys, she was jealous i was the one hanging out with Benny. now i could see not much had changed as she stood there in the light of the fire, crossing her arms and giving me a nasty look as Benny hugged me.
i waved to be nice. "hey Bella!" i started walking towards her.
"oh heyyy." her fake chirpy voice rang, "long time no see." she raised one eyebrow, and then turned around and sat down again.
"Here Benny you can have your spot back." Bella patted the seat next to hers. her fake little high pitched voice stung my ears.
"actually, i think i'm gonna sit over here with Brynn, but thanks." Benny sat down at the chair farthest away from her. "so i thought you were grounded." Benny says.
i couldn't tell him the reason i came, how DeNunez got me to sneak out. but i couldn't lie, so i told boys only part of the truth. "oh, DeNunez came to help me sneak out." i left at that, very minimal.
"but what if you get in more trouble, and then we can't see you for more days?" now Benny sounded concerned.
"hey no worries, i'm NOT going to get caught." i put my hand on his shoulder.
"but isn't how sneaking out got you grounded in the first place?" he asks.
"well, yes." i look up at the stars, "but i just have a feeling that everything's gonna go smoothly this time."
"ok then," Benny chuckles, "do you wanna go on the trampoline?"
"They still have that?" i ask.
"oh for sure!" Benny grabs my hand and pulls me over to the tramp.
we start bouncing and then Benny does a backflip, "woah how do you do that?" i was surprised.
"can you do a back handspring?" he asks.
"oh sure."
"well then try like you're going into a back handspring, but miss your hands and land on your stomach." he nods.
i was pretty sure there were more efficient ways to learn how to do it, but i just went along with Benny's unprofessional tips. i acted like i was going into a back handspring, but let my hands just brush the trampoline so i land on my stomach.
"see? you're half way there already." Benny does another backflip. "now that you have the feel, get a bigger jump and tuck."
sounds simple enough. i go to prepare, but suddenly my concentration was interrupted. "I've known how to do a backflip since the first grade." sure enough i look to see Bella climbing on the trampoline.
"it's not a competition." Benny chuckles, but part of me wants to just go off on her.
"well that's what happens when you're a gymnast." i reply to Bella, not being so friendly anymore. i'm not gonna be fake. if i don't like you, you'll know straight up. and i knew for a fact Bella had been a gymnast.
"wrong, i quit like last month." she scoffs, "i'm a dancer now." to be honest though, i don't know the difference.
"oh i'm sorry , WERE a gymnast." i snap back.
She whips out a back tuck, and looks at us expecting some sort of encore. "plus, dance and gymnastics are feminine sports, baseball is a guys sport. so i'm pretty sure all the guys just think of you as one of them, isn't that right Benny?" Bella turns to Benny.
"woah, woah, woah, you did not just sexualize sports." i walk up to her now, but Benny grabs my arm and pulls me back.
"isn't that right, Benny." Bella turns back to Benny, but he ignores her.
"let's just go." he rolls his eyes and pulls me off the trampoline. we walk by the guys on our way out and politely wave goodbye. DeNunez gives me a look, but i just roll my eyes with a smile.
"that was really sexist. what Bella said." Benny starts talking when we close the gate to Yeah-yeah's backyard.
"ya think?" i say sarcastically. but just out of curiosity, i want to know the answer to Bella's question. "do you, think of me as just one of the guys?"
"i used to." Benny looks down and blushes. i couldn't contain my smile, but i was able to hold back the scream.
-
Hey guys! just so you know and no one gets triggered at me or anything, i do know the difference between gymnastics and dance. i'm a competitive dancer so trust me, i know. i just thought the character Brinley would be a little uneducated on that stuff.
this chapter was long!! 2740 words!
also let me know if you like seeing the different POVs, or you just like to see Brinley's.
anyways, i would love seeing comments you guys! thank you for reading:)